Legal uncertainty over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments — including a Supreme Court fight over the Trump administration’s request to block state disbursements — has left students and campus food programs scrambling. The court’s pending decision on whether states can continue full SNAP payments has resulted in uneven benefit delivery across states and put pressure on college food pantries. On campuses such as California State University, Sacramento, demand at Basic Needs centers has risen as students face gaps in federal aid. Administrators and student‑affairs leaders report spikes in pantry use and calls for emergency support. For higher‑education officials, the immediate priority is stabilizing basic‑needs services while tracking legal developments that will determine eligibility and timing for benefit restoration.